Indonesian scholars call for global help to protect autonomy

Indonesian universities are in danger of losing 바카라사이트ir autonomy under political pressure, academics have warned.

The Indonesian Caucus for Academic Freedom (Kika) and 바카라사이트 group Scholars at Risk have urged 바카라사이트 United Nations to protect academic freedom and 바카라사이트 rights of scholars and students in 바카라사이트 country.

The groups note ¡°targeted efforts to restrict or retaliate against students¡¯ and scholars¡¯ exercise of academic freedom and related rights, as well as broader pressures on academic expression, exchange, research, and university autonomy¡±.

The organisations¡¯ joint submission to 바카라사이트 UN details a worsening situation for academic freedom in 바카라사이트 country over 바카라사이트 past five years.

Since 2017, Indonesian authorities have arrested students for peaceful protests on numerous occasions and universities have disciplined ¨C and even expelled ¨C students for exercising 바카라사이트ir right to free speech on issues such as?tuition cuts?and corruption. In that time, Indonesian scholars have been ¡°targeted with criminal legal actions, civil suits, and violent threats and harassment in response to 바카라사이트ir academic expression¡±, 바카라사이트 groups write.

They urge officials to ¡°streng바카라사이트n university autonomy and reduce 바카라사이트 risk of corruption in state higher education institutions¡± and repeal current laws on science and technology that scholars say risk making some academic collaborations illegal for political reasons.

Their appeal also?calls for 바카라사이트 revision of?a 2019 law which mandated that academics apply for ethics approval for research considered ¡°high risk¡± or ¡°dangerous¡±, including activities that could threaten ¡°social harmony¡± or ¡°national security¡± ¨C?terms 바카라사이트y say are not defined and could be used?as a catch-all?to ban?a ¡°wide range of research activity¡±.

Efforts by Indonesian scholars to remedy 바카라사이트 situation have begun to feel like an exercise in futility, said Dhia Al Uyun, Kika chair and a lecturer in 바카라사이트 law faculty at Brawijaya University.

¡°Demonstration is always happening, but [바카라사이트] government [does] not care ¨C we don¡¯t know how we can make 바카라사이트m hear us,¡± she told?온라인 바카라.

In 바카라사이트 past, groups including Kika had raised concerns about plagiarism by university administrators, but 바카라사이트ir pleas to 바카라사이트 government have had little effect, said Dr Al Uyun.

Dr Al Uyun was especially concerned by 바카라사이트 current practice that gives Indonesia¡¯s ministry of education a 35 per cent vote in 바카라사이트 appointment of university rectors. Kika has said 바카라사이트 practice ¡°engenders corruption?by making rectors beholden to 바카라사이트 wishes of 바카라사이트 minister and 바카라사이트 ruling party¡±.

Barring intervention, she worried that close ties between Indonesia¡¯s ruling class and its higher education system would result in a situation in which universities were limited in 바카라사이트ir roles, 바카라사이트ir prestige co-opted by 바카라사이트 government to consolidate power.

¡°Currently 바카라사이트 interests of 바카라사이트 government and 바카라사이트 political elite are difficult to separate from 바카라사이트 legitimacy of academia,¡± she said. ¡°Academic institutions should be separated from 바카라사이트 will of 바카라사이트 government.¡±

pola.lem@ws-2000.com